I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual

In I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, Luvvie Ajayi positions herself as the witty, no-nonsense friend auditing modern life’s moral and social bankruptcies. The book is a collection of sharply observed essays that function as a cultural corrective, targeting the gap between our professed values and our actual behavior, particularly as magnified through social media and pop culture. It operates on the premise that common sense is not so common, and that a forceful, humorous intervention is required to realign our collective compass.

Ajayi’s methodology is rooted in her perspective as a Nigerian-American culture blogger, dissecting a vast terrain that ranges from the deeply personal to the broadly political. She tackles the micro-aggressions of group chats and family gatherings with the same analytical rigor she applies to macro issues of systemic racism and media representation. Chapters seamlessly transition from calling out the absurdity of oversharing funeral selfies online to deconstructing the institutional scaffolding that upholds racial inequality, arguing that both stem from a failure of empathy and accountability.

The essays are united by a central thesis: that "doing better" is an active, daily practice. Ajayi provides a roadmap that begins with self-examination—addressing one’s own lateness or hygiene—and expands outward to encompass how we consume media, engage in relationships, and perform allyship. Her critique is especially potent regarding "slacktivism," highlighting the dissonance between curated online social justice personas and tangible, offline action. The tone is conversational yet incisive, employing neologisms and pop culture references as tools for disarming the reader before delivering a substantive argument.

Ultimately, the book’s significance lies in its accessibility as a primer on ethical living in a connected age. It speaks directly to a generation fluent in internet culture but often adrift in its moral implications. While grounded in a Black feminist perspective, its calls for integrity, critical thinking, and courage extend as a universal challenge. I'm Judging You is less a final verdict than a provocative opening statement, inviting readers to join the ongoing trial of their own choices.

The consensus celebrates Ajayi's razor-sharp wit and her fearless tackling of uncomfortable topics like race, feminism, and digital etiquette, finding these essays both hilarious and morally bracing. However, a significant contingent of readers criticizes the book for feeling like a repackaged blog compilation, arguing that some chapters lack the depth or structure expected of long-form writing and land as extended hot takes. The humor, while widely praised, is also noted as a double-edged sword, occasionally seeming to blunt the force of more serious arguments for some audiences.